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Specializes in ER.

My sister finally had her baby at 30 weeks. she had been on bedrest after a previa bleed since 25 weeks. Gorgeous baby- she looks just like her mom and sister. Unfortunately the doctors detected a shadow of some sort in the brain- not a bleed, but what sounds like a stroke...?

Anyway, they said they need to wait a week and do another ultrasound to see if this spot develops cysts. At that point, because of the placement of the abnormality, she may have a very poor prognosis, basically be in a vegetative state.

Does anyone know how often these shadows turn out to be nothing? I'm not talking exact statistics, but what's your guess? We are all pretty nervous and a week is a LONG time.

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Specializes in ER.

Or if you could give me any more information I'd be very greatful. Websites would be welcome.

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Specializes in NICU.

Well, they may be suspecting PVL--periventricular leukomalacia. I can only explain it in layperson-speak, but it's basically holes in the brain matter in areas that have been previously injured. Like the brain matter disintergrates in areas. We usually see it in a weeks-old baby that has had a previous IVH. However if she maybe had an infarct in utero, she may already show PVL at delivery. We always tell parents though, that newborn brains are amazingly plastic and can recover and/or other areas can compensate for the injured areas in ways that no adult ever could. Of course they have to give you the worst case scenario just to warn you.

I can't really think of anything else specific they might be suspecting other than a bleed in the parenchyma or cyst of some sort.

As for how often do these things turn out to be nothing... Well, I don't usually see a "something" turn out to be a "nothing." I have, though, seen "somethings" turn out to be "nothing serious" though. In my experience when we see something we can't identify on an ultrasound, we get a neurology consult and an MRI (but then our hospital has an MRI and it's not an issue of transporting to another hospital or anything). Waiting a week isn't necessarily wrong though, since if there IS something there, there isn't something they can really do about it so it's not an issue of delaying treatment. Your next step might be to ask if they're are seeing any neuro symptoms.

I'm sorry I can't off you more. I know waiting must be hard!

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Specializes in Home Health Care,LTC.

I wish you and your sister the best of luck. All I can tell you is that the nurses and Drs. in NICU are very good. My oldest spent 70 days there. My prayers are with you.

Angelia

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She is a beautiful baby. My heart breaks for you and the rest of the family. Praying that it is nothing serious.

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Specializes in ER.

If anyone works at Peter Lougheed NICU in Calgary would they please give Abby Dobbin's mom a big hug from her sister...and give her a little TLC. She's coming off as pretty angry right now but the tears are right underneath.

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If anyone works at Peter Lougheed NICU in Calgary would they please give Abby Dobbin's mom a big hug from her sister...and give her a little TLC. She's coming off as pretty angry right now but the tears are right underneath.

PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY???!!!!! yOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE OUT THE ADRESS AND BLOOD TYPE.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
She is a beautiful baby. My heart breaks for you and the rest of the family. Praying that it is nothing serious.

Oh, truly... I so agree. ((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

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Specializes in ER.
PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY???!!!!! yOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE OUT THE ADRESS AND BLOOD TYPE.

She's my sister. And her blood type is O+, as is mine.

Bye the way, the ultrasound came out PERFECT> (YAHOO!) :balloons: :coollook:

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